A low profile wide bandwidth angular scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array

Abstract

This invention discloses a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array, composed of individual antenna elements arranged in an N*N pattern. Each antenna element consists of a radiating patch layer and a feeding structure. The radiating patch layer is disposed on a dielectric substrate, and the patch portion includes parasitic stubs, electric dipole patches, and metal patches. Two metal patches are located on the upper and lower sides of two electric dipole patches, and each metal patch is connected to two parasitic stubs located at the left and right ends of the metal patch. The metal patches are connected above a metal grounding via. The electric dipole patches are connected above a magnetic dipole via. The feeding structure consists of a coupled feeding patch and a feeding network. The coupled feeding patch is printed on the upper surface of the uppermost dielectric substrate and connected above a coaxial feeding via. The feeding network is printed on the upper surface of the seventh dielectric substrate and connected below a coaxial feeding via. This antenna array exhibits wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning properties.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, angle-scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array. Background Technology

[0002] Microstrip patch antennas offer advantages such as simple structure, ease of fabrication, and low profile. Their compact structure and ease of integration with backend RF modules make them particularly advantageous in large-scale array designs, hence their frequent use in planar phased array antenna design. Magnetoelectric dipole antennas, due to their inherent characteristics, possess wide bandwidth and beamwidth. However, traditional magnetoelectric dipole antennas, using an air layer as the dielectric, have excessively high profiles, hindering fabrication and array formation. Microstrip magnetoelectric dipole antennas overcome this high profile issue. However, due to their traditional resonant operating principle, microstrip antennas have relatively narrow operating bandwidths and beamwidths. Regarding the E-plane and H-plane scanning width, this invention, based on microstrip magnetoelectric dipole radiation, addresses the narrow radiation width by introducing JVE and MPE type radiation sources and loading parasitic stubs, thus widening the beam scanning range in the E-plane and H-plane, resulting in a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, angular-scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna.

[0003] An electric dipole, also known as an electric oscillator, can be viewed as a tiny current element extracted from a uniformly distributed high-frequency current. Assuming the length of the conductor is *l*, the radius is *a*, and the wavelength of the current's frequency is *λ*, when *a* << *l* << *λ*, the current in this current element can be considered to be of equal amplitude and direction. Placing the electric dipole along the z-axis at the origin, its far-field radiation pattern can be calculated using Maxwell's equations. Its radiation pattern in the E-plane is figure-eight shaped, and its radiation pattern in the H-plane is circular.

[0004] Magnetic dipoles do not exist in nature; they are a hypothetical model. A tiny current-carrying circular loop is used as a substitute for a magnetic dipole in the principle analysis. The current loop is simulated at the center of the coordinate system, with a radius of 'a' and a distance 'r' from the field point to the origin, where 'a' << 'r'. It is assumed that the current distribution at every point on the loop is uniform. Its pattern in the E-plane is circular, and its pattern in the H-plane is figure-eight shaped.

[0005] Beamwidth Enhancement Technology: The following analyzes the detailed mechanism of beamwidth enhancement using metal vias, starting with a discussion of basic carrier antennas. Large planar phased arrays have a large ground plane, which can be considered as an electric or magnetic wall. Most antenna designs use an electric wall as the ground plane, while a few, for example, introduce an artificial magnetic conductor to reduce the antenna's profile height, using a magnetic wall as the ground plane. Since the magnetoelectric dipole ground plane proposed in this invention is an electric wall, only this case will be discussed. The radiation structure of a carrier antenna with an electric wall as the ground plane can be equivalent to a combination of current J and magnetic current M. Further, based on their polarization, they can be divided into parallel to the ground plane and perpendicular to the ground plane. Therefore, there are four types of carrier antennas based on electric walls: 1) Current parallel to the electric wall (JpE); 2) Current perpendicular to the electric wall (JvE); 3) Magnetic current parallel to the electric wall (MpE); 4) Magnetic current perpendicular to the electric wall (MvE). The four basic types are shown in the figure. The ground plane is located on the z=0 plane, and the source below the ground plane is given according to the image theory. Treating the source in the diagram as an infinitesimal current source, the far-field radiation patterns of the four types of antennas can be represented as follows:

[0006] 1) JpE:F(θ)=sin(kHcosθ)

[0007] 2)JvE:F(θ)=cos(kHcosθ)sin(θ)

[0008] 3) MpE:F(θ)=cos(kHcosθ)

[0009] 4)MvE: F(θ)=sin(kHcosθ)sin(θ)

[0010] Where k is the wavenumber and H is the distance between the source and the electric wall. MvE type antennas cannot cover either the end-fire direction or the side-fire direction. JvE type antennas can cover the end-fire direction but not the side-fire direction, and JpE type antennas can cover the side-fire direction but not the end-fire direction. Only MpE type antennas can cover both the end-fire and side-fire directions simultaneously. Therefore, this paper adds a metal via to generate a current perpendicular to the ground plane, further introducing a JvE type radiation source. Furthermore, the annular current generated by the metal vias on both sides also further introduces an MpE type radiation source, thus widening the radiation width of the E-plane and H-plane. In addition, to further expand the H-plane width, this invention introduces parasitic stubs at the metal patch on the upper surface of the metal grounding via. These stubs are fed outwards through a radiating patch coupling method. Because their phase lags behind the radiating patch, they act similarly to the director in a Yagi antenna, guiding the antenna beamwidth backward and expanding the H-plane beamwidth. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to propose a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array.

[0012] The technical solution to achieve the objective of this invention is: a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array, composed of individual antenna elements arranged in an N*N manner, including:

[0013] Dielectric substrate structure: It consists of seven dielectric substrates with through-hole structures, including metal grounding through-holes and magnetic dipole through-holes that penetrate all seven dielectric substrates, coaxial power supply through-holes that penetrate the first six dielectric substrates, and isolation holes that penetrate only the seventh dielectric substrate.

[0014] A single antenna element consists of a radiating patch layer and a feeding structure. The radiating patch layer is disposed on a dielectric substrate. The patch portion includes parasitic stubs, electric dipole patches, and metal patches. Two metal patches are located on the upper and lower sides of two electric dipole patches. Two parasitic stubs are connected to each metal patch, and the parasitic stubs are located at the left and right ends of the metal patch. The metal patches are connected above the metal grounding via. The electric dipole patches are connected above the magnetic dipole via.

[0015] The power supply structure consists of a coupling power supply patch and a power supply network. The coupling power supply patch is printed on the upper surface of the top dielectric substrate and is connected above the coaxial power supply via. The power supply network is printed on the upper surface of the 7th dielectric substrate and is connected below the coaxial power supply via.

[0016] Furthermore, JvE and MpE type radiation sources are introduced through metal grounding vias to broaden the E-plane radiation width of the antenna element.

[0017] Furthermore, the parasitic nodes are rectangular in shape.

[0018] Furthermore, one side of the electric dipole patch is rectangular, while the other side is U-shaped.

[0019] Furthermore, the U-shaped electric dipole patch has two magnetic dipole through holes symmetrically connected, and the rectangular electric dipole patch has three magnetic dipole through holes connected.

[0020] Furthermore, the metal grounding vias are symmetrically distributed at equal intervals on the upper and lower sides of the electric dipole patch, and their radii are different from those of the magnetic dipole vias and the coaxial power supply vias.

[0021] Furthermore, the radius of the metal grounding through hole is 0.2 mm, the radius of the magnetic dipole through hole is 0.15 mm, and the radius of the coaxial power supply through hole is 0.25 mm.

[0022] Furthermore, metal patches are continuously applied to the upper surface of the metal grounding via.

[0023] Furthermore, the number and radius of the metal grounding vias are related to the impedance matching and gain of the antenna element.

[0024] Furthermore, the feed source feeds the coupling feed patch through the coaxial feed through-hole, and the coupling feed patch feeds the electric dipole patch and the magnetic dipole through-hole through the coupling feed to enable them to radiate outward. On this basis, the electric dipole patch feeds the metal patch and parasitic stub through the coupling feed to widen the radiation beamwidth.

[0025] Compared with existing technologies, the significant advantages of this invention are: 1) It adds metal through-hole structures on both sides of the electric dipole and parasitic stub structures on the metal patches on both sides of the electric dipole. The newly added metal through-holes significantly expand the E-plane radiation width and slightly expand the H-plane beamwidth, while the parasitic stub structures expand the H-plane beamwidth, ultimately enabling the antenna to have wide-angle scanning properties in both the E-plane and H-plane. 2) The overall antenna adopts a microstrip structure magnetoelectric dipole antenna, reducing the antenna profile height. 3) The antenna elements can be arrayed in N*N configurations, improving antenna gain and broadening its application range. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural exploded view of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a top view of the upper surface of the antenna element of the present invention and its structural parameters.

[0028] Figure 3 This is the current distribution on the upper surface of the antenna element of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 This invention illustrates the effect of the diameter of the metal grounding via in the antenna unit on the impedance bandwidth.

[0030] Figure 5 This invention relates to the effect of the diameter of the metal grounding via in the antenna element on the E-plane beamwidth.

[0031] Figure 6 This invention illustrates the effect of the number of metal grounding vias in the antenna unit on the impedance bandwidth.

[0032] Figure 7 This invention relates to the effect of the number of metal grounding vias in the antenna element on the E-plane beamwidth.

[0033] Figure 8 This invention relates to the effect of the length of parasitic stubs in the antenna element on the impedance bandwidth.

[0034] Figure 9 This invention relates to the influence of the length of parasitic stubs in the antenna element on the H-plane beamwidth.

[0035] Figure 10 This invention relates to the effect of the width of parasitic stubs in the antenna element on the impedance bandwidth.

[0036] Figure 11This invention relates to the influence of the length of parasitic stubs in the antenna element on the H-plane beamwidth.

[0037] Figure 12 The diagram below shows the four-channel feed for the 2×2 antenna array of this invention, S11.

[0038] Figure 13 The beam patterns of the 2×2 antenna array of the present invention are shown in the E-plane and H-plane. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0040] This invention relates to a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array, which can be composed of individual antenna elements arranged in an N*N configuration. It includes:

[0041] Dielectric substrate structure: It consists of seven dielectric substrates with through-hole structures, including: metal grounding through-hole (3) and magnetic dipole through-hole (14) penetrating all 7 dielectric substrates, coaxial power supply through-hole (15) penetrating the first 6 dielectric substrates, and isolation hole (11) penetrating only the 7th dielectric substrate.

[0042] A single antenna element consists of a radiating patch layer (1) and a feeding structure. The radiating patch layer (1) is disposed on a dielectric substrate (2). The patch portion includes parasitic stubs (12), electric dipole patches (13), and metal patches (16). Two metal patches (16) are located on the upper and lower sides of two electric dipole patches (13). Each metal patch (16) is connected to two parasitic stubs (12), which are located at the left and right ends of the metal patch (16). The metal patches (16) are connected above to the metal grounding via (3). The added metal grounding via (3) introduces JvE and MpE type radiation sources, significantly widening the E-plane radiation width of the antenna element. The electric dipole patches (13) are connected above to the magnetic dipole via (14). The parasitic stub (12) is a patch portion extended from the metal patch (16). Similar to the director in a Yagi antenna, the parasitic stub's current phase lags behind the electric dipole patch. The electric dipole patch couples to guide the back-radiation of the beam, further widening the H-plane radiation width. The feeding structure consists of a coupling feed patch (17) and a feeding network (9). The coupling feed patch (17) is printed on the upper surface of the top dielectric substrate (2) and connected above the coaxial feed via (15). The feeding network (9) is printed on the upper surface of the 7th dielectric substrate and connected below the coaxial feed via (15).

[0043] Furthermore, one side of the electric dipole patch (13) is rectangular, and the other side is U-shaped. The upper surfaces of multiple magnetic dipole through holes (14) are connected to two electric dipole patches (13) respectively. The U-shaped electric dipole patch has two magnetic dipole through holes symmetrically connected, and the rectangular electric dipole patch has three magnetic dipole through holes connected.

[0044] Furthermore, the metal grounding through holes (3) are symmetrically distributed at equal intervals on the upper and lower sides of the electric dipole patch (13), and their radii are different from those of the magnetic dipole through holes (14) and the coaxial power supply through holes (15).

[0045] Furthermore, the metal patch (16) continuously covers the upper surface of the metal grounding through hole (3), ensuring the continuity of the through holes on both sides. Rectangular parasitic stubs (12) are connected to both ends of one metal patch (16), and one antenna element has four parasitic stubs (12).

[0046] In the low-profile wide-bandwidth scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array, the feed source feeds the coupled feed patch (17) through the coaxial feed through hole (15). The coupled feed patch (17) feeds the electric dipole patch (13) and the magnetic dipole through hole (14) through the coupled feed method to make them radiate outward. On this basis, the electric dipole patch (13) feeds the metal patch (16) and the parasitic branch (12) through the coupled feed method to widen the radiation beamwidth.

[0047] Furthermore, the number and radius of the metal grounding vias (3) are related to the impedance matching and gain of the antenna element.

[0048] In summary, this invention employs a microstrip antenna structure to reduce the profile height of traditional magnetoelectric dipole antennas. By adding metal grounding vias to the radiating patch layer to form a current perpendicular to the ground plane, JvE and MpE type radiation sources are introduced, significantly widening the E-plane radiation width and slightly widening the H-plane radiation width. Parasitic stubs are introduced at the metal patch above the metal vias in the radiating patch layer, similar to the director in a Yagi antenna. The current phase lags behind the electric dipole patch, and the back-firing beam guided by the electric dipole patch further widens the H-plane radiation width.

[0049] Example

[0050] To verify the effectiveness of the present invention, the following experiment was conducted.

[0051] like Figure 1As shown, a low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning 2×2 magnetoelectric dipole antenna array is disclosed. Each antenna element comprises a 7-layer dielectric substrate structure. The metal via structure includes 22 metal grounding vias 3 penetrating all 7 dielectric substrate layers, coaxial feed vias 15 penetrating the first 6 dielectric substrate layers, and isolation vias 11 penetrating only the bottommost dielectric substrate layer. A radiating patch layer 1 is printed on the topmost dielectric substrate layer, comprising two distinct electric dipole patches 13, five magnetic dipole vias 14, two metal patches, and four parasitic stubs 12. The feed structure includes one feed coupling patch 17 and a feed network 9.

[0052] The electric dipole patch 13 and magnetic dipole via 14 on the radiating patch layer 1 introduce a resonant point at low and high frequencies, respectively, thus widening the impedance bandwidth of the antenna element. Furthermore, by adding metal grounding vias 3 on both sides of the electric dipole patch 13, the E-plane beamwidth is significantly widened, and the H-plane beamwidth is slightly widened. Parasitic stubs are added on both sides of the electric dipole patch 13 to further widen the H-plane beamwidth.

[0053] like Figure 2 As shown, the continuity of the metal grounding via can be ensured by printing a metal patch 16 in the area where the metal grounding via 3 is connected to the radiation patch layer 1 above.

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, the current phase of the parasitic stub 12 lags behind the current phase on the electric dipole patch 13, which can guide the beam to radiate backward.

[0055] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown, the impedance matching and gain of the 2×2 antenna array can be affected by adjusting the radius of the metal grounding via 3.

[0056] like Figure 6 , 7 As shown, the impedance matching and gain of the 2×2 antenna array can be affected by adjusting the number of metal grounding vias 3.

[0057] like Figure 8 , 9 As shown, adjusting the length of the parasitic stub can affect the impedance matching and gain of the 2×2 antenna array.

[0058] like Figure 10 , 11 As shown, the impedance matching and gain of the 2×2 antenna array can be affected by adjusting the width of the parasitic stub 12.

[0059] The parameters of each unit of the radiating patch layer 1 are shown in Table 1 below:

[0060] Table 1

[0061]

[0062] In Table 1 above, Parameter refers to the parameter names given in the radiating element, and Units (mm) represents the specific values ​​of each parameter in millimeters. Specifically, I1 is the length of the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13, I2 is the width of the U-shaped portion of the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13, I3 is the width from the center of the magnetic dipole through-hole 14 on the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13 to the edge of the U-shaped portion of the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13, I4 is the width of the narrow side of the coupling feed patch 17, I5 is the width of the wide side of the coupling feed patch 17, I6 is the length of the other wide side of the coupling feed patch 17, I9 is ​​the width of the parasitic patch branch, and I10... Let w1 be the length of the parasitic patch stub, dx and dy be the length and width of a single antenna element, w1 be the width of the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13, w2 be the length of the narrow side of the coupling feed patch 17, w3 be the length of the wide side of the coupling feed patch 17, w4 be the width of the other wide side of the coupling feed patch 17, w5 be the width of the rectangular electric dipole patch 13, and d1 be the spacing width between the U-shaped electric dipole patch 13 and the rectangular metal patch 16.

[0063] like Figure 12 As shown, the S11 simulation diagram of the four feed channels of the 2×2 antenna array is obtained by simulating the HFSS simulation software.

[0064] like Figure 13 As shown, simulation diagrams of the E-plane and H-plane of a 2×2 antenna array were obtained by simulating the array using the HFSS simulation software.

[0065] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0066] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array, characterized in that, It consists of individual antenna elements arranged in an N*N pattern, including: Dielectric substrate structure: It consists of seven dielectric substrates with through-hole structures, including metal grounding through-hole (3) and magnetic dipole through-hole (14) that penetrate all seven dielectric substrates, coaxial power supply through-hole (15) that penetrates the first six dielectric substrates, and isolation hole (11) that only penetrates the seventh dielectric substrate. A single antenna unit consists of a radiating patch layer (1) and a feeding structure. The radiating patch layer (1) is disposed on a dielectric substrate (2). The patch portion includes parasitic stubs (12), electric dipole patches (13), and metal patches (16). Two metal patches (16) are located on the upper and lower sides of two electric dipole patches (13). Two parasitic stubs (12) are connected to each metal patch (16). The parasitic stubs (12) are located on the left and right ends of the metal patch (16). The metal patch (16) is connected above the metal grounding via (3). The electric dipole patch (13) is connected above the magnetic dipole via (14). The power supply structure consists of a coupling power supply patch (17) and a power supply network (9). The coupling power supply patch (17) is printed on the upper surface of the uppermost dielectric substrate (2) and connected above the coaxial power supply via (15). The power supply network (9) is printed on the upper surface of the 7th dielectric substrate and connected below the coaxial power supply via (15). JvE and MpE type radiation sources are introduced through metal grounding via (3) to broaden the E-plane radiation width of the antenna element.

2. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The parasitic branch (12) is rectangular in shape.

3. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, One side of the electric dipole patch (13) is rectangular and the other side is U-shaped.

4. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 3, characterized in that, The U-shaped electric dipole patch has two magnetic dipole through holes symmetrically connected, while the rectangular electric dipole patch has three magnetic dipole through holes connected.

5. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, Metal grounding holes (3) are symmetrically distributed at equal intervals on the upper and lower sides of the electric dipole patch (13), and their radii are different from those of the magnetic dipole holes (14) and the coaxial power supply holes (15).

6. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 5, characterized in that, The metal grounding through hole (3) has a radius of 0.2 mm, the magnetic dipole through hole (14) has a radius of 0.15 mm, and the coaxial power supply through hole (15) has a radius of 0.25 mm.

7. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, Metal patches (16) are continuously covered on the upper surface of the metal grounding through hole (3).

8. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number and radius of the metal grounding via (3) are related to the impedance matching and gain of the antenna element.

9. The low-profile, wide-bandwidth, wide-angle scanning magnetoelectric dipole antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feed source feeds the coupling feed patch (17) through the coaxial feed through hole (15). The coupling feed patch (17) feeds the electric dipole patch (13) and the magnetic dipole through hole (14) through the coupling feed to make them radiate outward. On this basis, the electric dipole patch (13) feeds the metal patch (16) and the parasitic branch (12) through the coupling feed to widen the radiation beamwidth.

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